Author: Daniel Dobish, Senior Writer
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due to what the team called a left quadriceps contusion, according to the San Antonio Express-News. He apparently tweaked his leg in the game Tuesday against the Orlando Magic, and dressed but did not play Wednesday in Dallas. He is now on the Injured List heading into a three-game road trip starting in Milwaukee Monday.
Head coach Gregg Popovich said Parker is day to day, but Fantasy owners will want to sit him until he can officially return and prove his health in back to back games without any setbacks. He has already missed seven games this season due to a multitude of injuries. Rookie PG Nicolas Laprovittola made the start for a second straight game Friday, posting seven points, three assists and two steals with a rebound in 20 minutes. PG Patty Mills came off the bench and played 28 minutes, dropping 10 points with eight assists and four rebounds. The Aussie is a better Fantasy play despite coming off the bench.
Tony Parker is back on the mend again. Photo Credit: Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News/ZUMA Press/Icon Sportswire
TEAM WITH FIVE GAMES
Golden State
TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES
Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Utah, Washington
TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES
Atlanta, Brooklyn, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Toronto
TEAM WITH TWO GAMES
L.A. Clippers
WEEK 6 SCHEDULE ANALYSIS
FAVORABLE
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: The Warriors are the only team so far this season to have a five-game slate, and if you want Fantasy options to have a five-game schedule it is the high-octane Warriors. You would start PG Stephen Curry and SF Kevin Durant anyway, even if they had a three-game schedule, but borderline options like SG Ian Clark, SF Andre Iguodala, PG Shaun Livingston and C Zaza Pachulia are attractive Fantasy plays in cumulative leagues with the extra game or two of production.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: The Grizzlies have an amazing Fantasy-friendly schedule, perhaps the most favorable of the season for any one team. Memphis will face Golden State (106.4 PPGA), New Orleans (105.4 PPGA), Philadelphia (107.8 PPGA) and Portland (112.5 PPGA), four defenses ranking in the bottom third of the NBA defensively. C Marc Gasol is going to have a field day, or make that a field week. SG Vince Carter has shown he still has something left in the tank, and he is worth a spin in all leagues of 12 or more teams this week. PG Andrew Harrison is getting a shot with PG Mike Conley (back) on the shelf, and Harrison is a great sleeper in all Fantasy formats.
UNFAVORABLE
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: The Clips are the only team in the league with a two-game slate in the upcoming scoring period. That makes all but PF Blake Griffin and PG Chris Paul reserves in cumulative Fantasy formats. Perhaps G J.J. Redick is worth using in Rotisserie formats for his triples, as he should see plenty of wide-open looks against these two defensively-challenged opponents. The Clippers play the Warriors (106.4 PPGA) and Pelicans (105.4 PPGA), so it will cushion the blow of a two-game schedule a little bit, but no other Clippers are worth using in head-to-head formats.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: The T’Wolves have tough sledding this week with home dates against the defensive-minded Pistons (96.9 PPGA) and Spurs (98.2 PPGA). The Pistons have the toughest scoring defense in the Eastern Conference, and the Spurs rank No. 2 overall in the NBA.
INJURY CONCERNS
— Dallas Mavericks PF Dirk Nowitzki (Achilles’) is dealing with a strained right Achilles’ and he is considered out indefinitely. Head coach Rick Carlisle told the team’s official website that Nowitzki will be out “a while.” With Dirk on the shelf, F Dorian Finney-Smith made another start Friday night. He is averaging 3.8 PPG and 1.9 RPG while averaging about 18 minutes per contest. He is only worth using in the deepest of Fantasy formats. The offense starts and stops with SF Harrison Barnes, who has already lost more games (15) than he did on average in Golden State in each of the past two seasons.
— Nowitzki’s teammate, G Seth Curry (knee), is also dealing with a sprained right knee and he is a question mark for Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. If you’re in a Fantasy league averaging points per game played, then you can keep using Curry. He is a risky play in cumulative formats, though.
— Houston Rockets swingman Trevor Ariza (back) was feeling better Sunday, head coach Mark D’Antoni told the Houston Chronicle. However, he is still a bit of a question mark heading into the new week. If you have healthier alternatives it’s a good time to use them. Back injuries can be tricky.
— Los Angeles Lakers PF Larry Nance Jr. (knee) is battling a right knee contusion and he is uncertain for Monday’s game against the Utah Jazz. If he continues to grab pine it will be to the benefit of Fantasy owners for Fs Luol Deng, rookie Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle. Nance should be avoided in all Fantasy leagues heading into Week 7. Nance might join G Jose Calderon (hamstring) in street clothes, as the veteran is already ruled out for Monday.
— Utah Jazz swingman George Hill (toe) missed his second straight game Saturday against the Denver Nuggets due to a left big toe injury. It’s uncertain if Hill will remain sidelined for long, but PG Shelvin Mack and SG Dante Exum will again divvy up the minutes in Hill’s stead. Mack has more short-term Fantasy appeal than Exum at this point. Mack had 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal in 33 minutes Thursday against Miami.
JUMP SHOTS
— Fantasy owners are always scouring the waiver wire looking for the next best thing. But how about a guy who has been doing it a while now? Charlotte Hornets SG Marco Belinelli always seems to get overlooked, but he is averaging 11.6 PPG with 2.7 RPG and a total of 26 3-pointers over the past 12 games while averaging just over 25 minutes per contest. He is certainly helpful in Rotisserie formats, but some deeper head-to-head leagues, too.
— Miami Heat SG Wayne Ellington drew the start Saturday in Portland, and he posted his third straight double-digit scoring effort. Over the past three games he is averaging 17.0 PPG with couple of assists, rebounds and steals per game. He isn’t a bad short-term addition in deeper Fantasy leagues or Rotisserie formats for help in the scoring department.
— Toronto Raptors C Lucas Nogueira has logged 16 swats over the past 10 games, and he is averaging 3.6 PPG and 2.9 RPG over the past 10 games. He isn’t much on the offensive end of the floor, but if you’re looking for a temporary boost in blocked shots Nogueira is your man, especially in deeper leagues.
— In this season of giving, New Orleans Pelicans Pelicans PG Langston Galloway has been more interested in thievery. He has 15 steals over the past 10 games, and he has averaged 9.7 PPG with 2.2 RPG and 1.6 APG. Galloway continues to log 18-24 minutes per game despite a logjam in the backcourt in NOLA.
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